[Note: In the January 19, 2022 NY Times Comments section, an incremental scientist chastised this writer for not submitting his speculative theory of the origin of the Pacific Basin to peer review. He termed it misinformation. Dozens of scientists approved. But then it emerged that they were proponents of a rival theory! And that this writer’s theory threatened their funding! Heaven forfend that we suspect them of wanting to use peer review to suppress this theory.]
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There are good reasons to think that Earth and Mars originally formed a single planet outside the orbit of Jupiter. Then, about 4.47 billion years ago, this planet was pulled by Jupiter’s powerful gravitational field past the gas giant. As it neared Jupiter, tidal friction heated it to the melting point, and Jupiter tore Mars away from Earth, leaving the Pacific Basin. Earth and Mars turned into comets that sped off into the inner solar system.
A new theory of the origin of the terrestrial planets—that Jupiter’s gravity pulled them inward from the outer solar system—solves longstanding scientific riddles and offers a rich agenda for further investigation.